The Long March–Victory of the People
By Dr. Masood Raja • Mar 20th, 2009 • Category: Politics • 4 CommentsIn the US media the recent long march and its consequent success is being covered under the following two-pronged narrative:
1) Hillary Clinton’s efforts resolved the issue including a threat to withold aid.
2) US and Europe wanted Pakistan to be stable to fight the real war against Taliban and the fundamnetalists.
It is sad that even at the most triumphant moment of a popular movement, the success is still attributed to the US administration and normalized in the name of US and European interests in the region.
Let us not forget that the solution so kindly offered by the Pakistani government was reached through the unrelenting efforts of the Pakistani people. Had the people not marched in the streets, the powers that be would have had no reason to pressure Zardari and his cohorts.
There is a lot of hope in such popular movements: they teach us that there is only so much people will take. In democracy such popular pressure is necessary to keep the politicians and their corporate masters honest.
Let us also not forget that while Pakistan does face the dangers of terrorism and fundamentalism, Pakistani people cannot postpone their dreams of a true democracy until all other problems have been resolved. In truth a truly representative democracy is the first step towards long term solutions.
Another important thing about this march is its very ideological nature: people did not come out in the streets to ask for cheap food or oil–they came out on an issue of constitutionality, and to support an independent judiciary. In this regard they are far ahead of their current American or European counterparts.
So let us call this victory what it truly is–A popular victory against oppression!
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is an Assistant Professor of Postcolonial literature and theory at Kent State University, OH, United States and the editor of Pakistaniaat: A Journal of Pakistan Studies.
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Dr. Raja you might not like to see the western media / press giving credit to Secretary of State Clinton for political resolution of issues in Pakistan recently. However, our liking or disliking hardly has anything to do with ground reality, facts happen to be darn stubborn and don’t go away simply because we are not in the habit of accepting them. Following is Nawaz Sharif version as he narrated it to ‘The Indian Express’ and reported in DAWN (Thursday, March 19th) :
“….However, their victory was reportedly made possible with the help of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Army Chief Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and United States Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, according to The Indian Express.
When PML-N Chief was asked to comment on the role of this troika, he maintained his usual safe distance from Pakistan Army and said: ‘Frankly, I have no idea if General Kayani was consulted. All I know is that humaaray yahaan kursi ko salaam hota raha hai (we have always saluted the chair.) The country wanted a change from this practice.
‘Mr Gilani played his role as PM astutely. And as far as Hillary is concerned, she called me and expressed her desire to see stability in Pakistan. Although it was her first call to me after assuming office, we’ve been friends since her husband Bill Clinton’s presidency. Clinton is my friend, so we had a friendly chat,’ Nawaz Sharif said…..”
I hope DUNYA KA YE MANHOOS TAREEN CJ (JIS KI WAJAH SEY MULK KI ECONOMY KA BEDA GHARAQ HUA, LOG MAREY GAI, IS KI ANA NEY KITNEY HI PROJECTS BAND KARWAY MUSHARRAF KI DUSHMANI MEIN LAL MASJID KEY TERRORISTS AZAD KEAY, AUR KITNEY HI SUO MOTO ACTION SEY MULK KA INTIZAM KHARAB KIA)
AB THODA AQAL SYKAM LEY LAGA
AUR SIRF WOH FIASLEY KAREY GA JO MULK AUR QAUM KEY BHALAI MEIN HON GEY NAKEY APNI ANA KI TASKEEN KEY LEAY!!!!!!!!!
My point simply is that no one would have lent a hand if the people had not taken to the streets: Thus, people are the main reason for this victory. Everything else is important but secondary.
Of course all these poor masses manipulated by the ‘bought’ free media let out in the street helped those blackmail and acieve whatever their designs are; be rest assured same number of cattles let loose would have just about same effect. Like cattles we the people are not really either informed or aware of our rights. Victory for who, if you mean the gansters won again, you can say that one more time!
Unless we learn to see the reality and accept the fact that a bunch of thugs from Punjab are just as abhorable as any thugs from any other province, nothing would change. Someone free from all incumberance of her / his dirty past, someone without any burden of guilt must come forward and clean this land and help the masses take care of all these imposters with their ( Long list of contempting the judiciary The Supreme Court - Justice Syed Sajjad Ali Shah / Lahore High Court manipulation Justice Abdul Qayum for Benazir Bhutto & Zardari case / Jan group arm twisting (They learnt their lesson good!) and and.
This is the only important issue - They all must go!